Meantime history was making at the shop: very slowly at first, it is true. The holly2 had been made the most of; but it seemed to attract not at all. Penn’orths and ha’porths were most of the sales, and even they were few. Nan May grew haggard and desperate. Uncle Isaac had called once soon after the opening Saturday, but since had been a stranger. He had said that he was about to change his lodgings3 (he was a widower), but Nan knew nothing of his new address. In truth, such was Uncle Isaac’s tenderness of heart, that he disliked the sight or complaint of distress4; and, in the manner of many other people of similar tenderness, he betook himself as far as possible from the scene thereof, and kept there.
It was within a few days of Christmas when things p. 130seemed hopeless. Johnny, indeed, had never ceased to hope till now. He had talked of the certainty of struggling on somehow till his wages were enough for all; indeed, even the six shillings a week seemed something considerable now, though he knew that the rent alone came to ten. But even Johnny’s cheerfulness fell in face of the intenser dejection, the more open tears, of his mother and sister, as the days wore on. Long Hicks found him a quieter, less inquisitive5 boy, and a duller help than at first; and dinner at home was a sad make-believe. Each knew that the other two were contrasting the coming Christmas with the last. Then, gran’dad was with them, hale and merry; to look out of window was to look through a world of frosty twigs6 to woody deeps where the deer waited, timid and shadowy, for the crusts flung out afar for them from the garden. Now . . . but there!
But it was just at this desperate time that a change came, as by magic. The men who pulled down the wall at the opposite side of the street gave place to others who built a mighty7 brick pier8 at each side of the opening: a pier designed to carry its half of the new gate. But ere the work was near complete, men and boys from the yard found it a convenient place to slip out and in at, on breakfast-time or dinner-time errands.
Now it chanced at the time that one of these men was in a domestic difficulty; a difficulty that a large p. 131part of the eight or nine hundred men of the ship-yard encountered in turn at more or less regular intervals9. His wife inhabited the bedroom in company with a monthly nurse; while he roosted sleeplessly10 at night on a slippery horsehair couch in the parlour, or wallowed in a jumble11 of spare blankets and old coats on the floor; spending his home hours by day in desolate12 muddling13 in the kitchen, lost and incapable14, and abject15 before the tyranny of the nurse. On dark mornings he made forlorn attempts at raking together a breakfast to carry with him to work; but as he had taken no thought to put anything into the cupboard over night, he found it no easy matter to extract a breakfast from it in the morning. So it came to pass that on the second day of his affliction this bedevilled husband, his hunger merely aggravated16 by the stale lumps of bread he had thought to make shift on, issued forth17 at the new gate in quest of breakfast. There was little time, and most of the shops were a distance off; but just opposite was a flaming little chandler’s shop, newly opened. It was thinly stocked enough, but it would be hard luck indeed if it did not hold something eatable. And so Nan May’s first customer that day was the starved husband.
“Got anythink t’ eat?” he asked, his ravening18 gaze piercing the bare corners of the shop. “Got any bacon?”
p. 132“Yes, sir,” Nan May answered, reaching for the insignificant19 bit of “streaky” that was all she had.
“No—cooked, I mean. Aincher got any cold boiled ’ock?”
“No, sir.”
“Y’ ought t’ ave some cooked ’ock. Lots ’ud ’ave it in the yard. I can’t eat that—the smiths’ shop ’s the other end o’ the yard, an’ I got nothing to toast it with. Aincher got nothing else?”
Nan May grasped the situation, and conceived an instant notion, for indeed she had inborn20 talent as a shopkeeper, though till now it had had no chance to show itself. “Will you wait five minutes?” she asked.
Yes, he would wait five minutes, but no more: and he sat on the empty case, from which Uncle Isaac had delivered his recommendation of Enterprise. Nan May cut two rashers and retired21 to the shop parlour. In three minutes the hungry customer was hammering on the counter, declaring that he could wait no longer. Pacified22 by assurances from within, he resigned himself to a minute and a half more of patience: when Mrs. May returned with a massive sandwich, wherein the two rashers, fresh frizzled, lay between two thick slices of bread. Lifting the top slice for a moment, as guarantee of good faith, Nan May exchanged the whole ration23 for threepence.
p. 133“If you’d like any cold boiled bacon, sir,” she said, “I shall have some at one o’clock.”
He heard, but he was off at a trot24 with his sandwich. In five minutes Nan May’s bonnet25 was on, and in five more Bessy was minding shop alone, while her mother hastened to Mr. Dunkin’s for a hock of bacon. Here was a possible change of fortune, and Nan May was not a woman to waste a chance.
Boiled and cooled—or cooled enough for the taste of hungry riveters—the hock stood in a dish on the counter at one o’clock, flanked by carving-knife and fork. A card, bearing the best 10 that Bessy could draw, advertised the price, and the first quarter-pound of slices was duly cut for the desolate husband, who came back, a little later, for two ounces more; for he had been ill-fed for two or three days, and the new baby made an event wherewith some extra expense was natural. Boys came for two other quarter-pounds, so that it was plain that the first customer had told others; and a loaf was cut up to go with the bacon.
Mrs. May announced the new branch of trade to Johnny when he came to dinner; and though as yet the returns were small enough, there was a new chance, and his mother was hopeful of it; so he went back to the lathe26 with a lighter27 heart.
That night the riveters worked overtime28, and the p. 134bacon was in better demand still. More, at night two or three men took home a snack in paper, for supper; and from that day things grew better daily. The hock was finished by the afternoon of the next day, and the establishment was out of pickles29; for men and boys who brought their own cold meat with them came now for pickles. Trade was better as the days went on, and Christmas, though it found them poor enough, was none so sad a festival after all. And in a month, when the gate had been formally opened for some time, and the men streamed by in hundreds, three large hocks would rarely last two days; and there was an average profit of three shillings a hock. More, the bread came in daily in batches30, at trade price, and cheese and pickles went merrily. But what went best, and what increased in sale even beyond this point, was the bacon. Some customers called it ham, which pleased Nan May; for indeed her cooking hit the popular taste, and she began to feel a pride in it. Men who went home to dinner would buy bacon to take home for tea; and as many of these lived in Harbour Lane and thereabout, custom soon came from their wives, in soap and candles, treacle31 and pepper and blacking. Nan May’s trade instinct grew with exercise. She found the particular sort of bacon that best suited her purpose and her customers’ tastes; she had regular boilings throughout the week; she quickly found the trick of judging the quality of p. 135whatever she bought; and she bought to the best use of her money.
But here it must be said that Nan May, in her new prosperity, behaved toward one benefactor32 with an undutiful forgetfulness that was near ingratitude33. For she bought almost nothing of Mr. Dunkin. He was reasonably grieved. True, she had begun by getting her first stock of him, but even then her critical examination of what was sent showed an unworthily suspicious attitude of mind. She even sent back many things and demanded better, wilfully34 blind to the fact that Mr. Dunkin could turn her out of the shop at a week’s notice if he pleased; though indeed in his own mind he was not vindictive35, for another new tenant36 would be hard to find. He even submitted to outrage37 ending in actual loss and humiliation38. For a large tin of mustard was Mrs. May’s first supply, and it was a tin from among those kept for sale to small shopkeepers, and not on any account to be sold from retail39, across Mr. Dunkin’s own counter. But something in the feel and taste of this mustard did not please Nan May (though indeed she was not asked to eat it), and it went back. Now it chanced that Mr. Dunkin had taken on a new shopman that week, and this bungling40 incapable straightway began selling mustard from the returned tin. He had served three customers before his blunder was perceived, and then the matter came to light purely41 because the third customer chanced p. 136to be a food and drug inspector42. This functionary43 gravely announced himself as soon as he had good hold of the parcel, and handsomely offered the return of a third part of the mustard, in a sealed packet. And the upshot was a fine of five pounds and costs for Mr. Dunkin, on the opinionative evidence of an analyst44, who talked of starch45 and turmeric and ginger—all very excellent substances, as anybody knows. Truly it was a vexatious blow for Mr. Dunkin, and an unjust; for certainly the fault was not his, and to sell such an article, retail, was wholly against his principles. But he never complained, such was his forbearance: never spoke46 of his hardship to a soul, in fact, except when he “sacked” the new assistant. It was even said that he had offered a reporter money to keep it out of the papers; and though it did get into the papers (and at good length too) yet the effort was kindly47 meant. For truly it could but give Mrs. May pain to learn that she had been the cause of Mr. Dunkin’s misfortune, if she were a woman of any feeling at all.
But as time went, he began to doubt if she were, for her custom dropped away to nothing. The rate at which bacon was handed in from the cart of a firm somewhere in the Borough48, was scandalous to behold49. Before his very eyes, too, when he called for the rent. He employed a collector, but presently took to coming for the rent himself, that by his presence and his manner he might shame p. 137so thankless a tenant into some sense of decency50, some order for bacon or mustard. He coughed gently and stared very hard at the incoming goods, but Nan May was in no wise abashed51, and gave the carman his directions with shameless composure. With his sympathetic stop full out, Mr. Dunkin asked how trade was, and Nan May answered in proper shopkeeper terms, that “she mustn’t grumble52.” With hums and purrs, he led back through casual questions and answers to the stock he had at first supplied, and asked her how she had done with this, and how that had “gone off.” But her answers were so artlessly direct, so inconsiderately truthful53, that good Mr. Dunkin was clean baffled, and reduced at last to a desperate hint that if anything were wanted he could take the order back with him. But he got no order, so he purred and hummed his way into Harbour Lane, and so away; and after a time the collector came in his stead.
Mr. Dunkin resolved to wait. He had some doubts of the permanence of this new prosperity in the shop. The place had never brought anybody a living yet, and he should not feel convinced till he had seen steady trade there for some time. Nan May’s activities could always be kept from flagging by judicious54 increases of rent, and if the thing grew well established by her exertions55, and was certain to continue a paying concern, why, here would be a new branch of Mr. Dunkin’s business ready made. p. 138It needed but a week’s notice, given unexpectedly, at a properly chosen time, when no neighbouring shop was to let, and a good stroke of business was happily completed. Mrs. May would vanish, a man would go in to manage at a pound or twenty-five shillings a week and his quarters, there would be no interruption to trade (for the outgoing tenant would naturally keep at work till the last minute, to get what little she could), and Mr. Dunkin would have a new branch, paying very excellently, with no trouble to himself. Mr. Dunkin had established other branches in the same way, and found it a very simple and cheap arrangement. There was no risk of his own capital, no trouble in “working-up” the trade, no cost of goodwill56, and rent was coming regularly while the tenant laboured with the zeal57 of a man who imagines he is working for his own benefit and his children’s. The important thing was to give nothing but a weekly tenancy; else the tenant might find time to get going somewhere near at hand, and so perhaps deprive Mr. Dunkin of the just reward of his sagacity, foresight58, and patience. But there was little difficulty in that matter. Beginners were timid and glad of a weekly tenancy, fearing the responsibility of anything longer, at first; and afterwards—well, things were in a groove59, and Mr. Dunkin was so very kind and sympathetic that it wasn’t worth while to bother about a change. And by this method Mr. Dunkin, judiciously60 selecting his purchases in shop property, had acquired p. 139two or three of his half-dozen branches, and flourished exceedingly; which all kindly souls rejoiced to see.
In the beginning he had no thought of this plan for the Harbour Lane shop, being mainly concerned to get a tenant, no matter in what trade; and indeed in his eye the place was as little suited for chandlery as for anything. Even now he must wait, for he doubted the lasting61 quality of the new prosperity; better a few years of forbearance than a too hurried seizure62 of a weakening concern, to find little more than the same tenantless63 shop on his hands after all. And if it seemed that the trade owed anything to the personal qualities and connexions of Mrs. May, well, it would be a simple thing to keep her on to manage, instead of a man. It would be an act of benevolence64, moreover, to an unfortunate widow, and come cheaper. But that was a matter for the future.
Meanwhile Nan May, active and confident, filled her shop by purchase from whatsoever65 factor sold best and cheapest, and travellers called for her orders. The hungry husband who first came for cooked bacon she always treated with particular consideration, finding him good cuts. He ceased his regular visits in three weeks or less, and Nan May, taught by experience in her earlier London life, well guessed the cause of his coming. In the spring, three months or so later, great crowds thronged66 about the ship-yard to see the launch of the battleship that overtime had so long been worked on; and when the p. 140launch was over, this man and his wife, the man carrying the baby, came into the shop for something to celebrate the occasion at tea. The parents did not altogether comprehend Nan May’s enthusiasm over the baby, which she took from its father’s arms and danced merrily about the shop, while customers waited. But they set it down to admiration67 of its personal beauty, though truly it was an ordinary slobbery baby enough. But it went away down the street in great state, triumphantly68 stabbing at its mouth with the sugarstick gripped by one hand, and at its father’s whiskers with that brandished69 in the other.
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1
nibbling
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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2
holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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3
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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sleeplessly
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| adv.失眠地 | |
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jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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13
muddling
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| v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的现在分词 )；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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ravening
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| a.贪婪而饥饿的 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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inborn
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| adj.天生的，生来的，先天的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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pacified
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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lathe
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| n.车床，陶器，镟床 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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overtime
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| adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地 | |
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pickles
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| n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱 | |
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batches
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| 一批( batch的名词复数 )； 一炉； （食物、药物等的）一批生产的量； 成批作业 | |
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treacle
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| n.糖蜜 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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39
retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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40
bungling
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| adj.笨拙的，粗劣的v.搞糟，完不成( bungle的现在分词 )；笨手笨脚地做；失败；完不成 | |
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41
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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42
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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43
functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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44
analyst
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| n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家 | |
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45
starch
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| n.淀粉；vt.给...上浆 | |
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46
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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47
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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48
borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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49
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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50
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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51
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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53
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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54
judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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55
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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56
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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59
groove
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| n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯 | |
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60
judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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61
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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62
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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63
tenantless
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| adj.无人租赁的，无人居住的 | |
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64
benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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65
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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66
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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68
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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69
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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